The Portland daily press., 1887-08-09
EVERY MOTHERS SON OUT.
Men, Women and Little Children
Seen at the Polls on Texas's EIec-
ton Day.
[st. Louis Glohe.Democrat. !

[St. Louis Globe-Democrat.1
Never was there SO much excitement be-
fore in Galveston upon the result of an cleo
ton. Indications pointed to fierce and bit
ter fight between the "antis' and ''pros" and
before daylight was well advanced this
morning the streets were full of wagons.
controlled by the opposing factions, in which
noisy brass bands were playing, "Prohibi-
tion!' "Anti-Prohibitionr Free Wins
ky!' etc., were the cries that continually
came from the great crowds congregated on
the street corners. The election sentiment
was thoroughly instilled in ALL Women and
children mingled freely with the prohibition
canvassers and endeavored to turn ''antis"
from their purpose.
AT the polls throughout the city the scene
was most peculiar one. Here the ''pros"
and "antis" had concentrated all available
forces The "pros" had prevailed upon the
women to take charge of booth at every
poll and by serving tree lunch, ice water,
coffee and lemonade to the voters, to endeav-
or to persuade them to vote for prohibition
The women had regular criers. who would
stand upon an elevation and direct the peo-
pie TO the lunch stand. Upon going inside
the voter was RECALLED with coffee and lunch
ana then handed prohibition ticket. with
the request that he cast his vote for the
cause and aid in the destruction of the whis-
KY demon. Little children were detailed as
canyassers for the cause, and would circle
in and out of the crowd crying out for all to
vote for prohibition. The women who were
so active in the cause wore a modest uni
form somewhat similar to that adopted by
the Salvatlonlsts. Ministers of the Gospel
were also aiding the women, and OCCASION
ally would exhort the voters to Join issue
with the prOhibitionists.
The whole city was vitality interested in
the question, and carriages containing wom-
en- and children were drawn up in thick
ring In the vicinity of every poll generally
awaiting the result of the count.
In the meantime the "antis" were not idle.
otreetcorner orators were plentiful and
would always gather a crowd. Prominent
anus would mount an empty lager beer
barrel in front of a closed saloon and i'm
plore the people to vote against the amend
ment and sustain the 'shonor of American
citizenship" They would hurl maledictions
at the probbitionists, calling them ruthless
fanatics and apply other opprobrious terms
70 Them. All the liquor establishments in
the city had active canvaSsers; some of them
went around in wagons and would throw
cigars to the crowd, literally emptying boxes
Oh them among the people. Some of these
vehicles had rongh but forcible sketches
traced on canvas and pinned TO their side
lew of the sketches represented tbs evii
effects Of prohibition after heqrrss5g , ov,i
a picture was seen presenting q ssblind
tger "a isttfsway and people stealing in
Fssasfougn trap doors and coming down
through chimneys. Underneath this the
words "Disgraceful effect of prohibition.
On the other hand, those wagons con-
trolled by the pros had rough paintings on
the sides of the vehicle, representing the
great increase in health, happiness and pros
perity OF the masses after prohibition was
enforced, and then, on the other side of the
| wagon, scene was painted showing drunk
ard beating his wife, man in dellrium ire
mems and a mother weeping over her hungry
| children. Underneath this scene was written
| the following
Must scs stu endure the monster In
our midst Noa0 is the time, citizens,
TODD your duty. Lend your aid to an
initiate the demon.
| Many enthusiastic women were in the
| wagons controlled by the pros and fire.
| quently the vehicles would draw up at cor
| ners and both men and women deliver brief
| speeches to the people, requesting them to
| vote for prohibition, after which the brass
bands would play victorious airs and the
| wagons would march on to another place.
| Some OF the incidents were very amusing.
| A prominent gentleman was heard to re-
mark, as he dropped an ant. prohibition tick
| ct into the ballot box:
Good Lord how fooled my Wife"
Many people seemed TO have the idea that
.hc piohioilioh aIltnumcnt was the only
question to be voted upon, and grew quite
confused There were six other amend
ments proposed besides the prohibition
amendment, and many who voted against
prohibition voted blindly against all the 9th
er amendments
One OF the prominent features of the day
was prohibition procession through the
streets, composed of hacks and other yehi-
Giles, filled principally with women. Long
streamers foated out from each with these
words written on them:
Voters, sGce our Sous from the Saloons.
There were several rows at some of the
polls, but no serious fights.